By Cynthia VanLandingham
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Muscle Flexibility is important to playing an instrument such as the piano. This allows a
student to play easily, with finger spring, wrist flexibility and control. But surprisingly
this important element of playing doesn't begin with the fingertips. It starts in the large
muscles of the back, shoulder and upper arms.
Think back to your science or anatomy class. Remember that skeleton guy standing next
to your teacher's desk, waiting to be used as an example? Well it's time to pay attention in
class, because this boney guy has some valuable tips for piano students. All of the parts
that make up your collar bone, shoulder blade, upper arm, forearm, wrist, hand and
fingers are connected and operate as one skeletal and muscular system. You remember
how that tune goes: "The head bone's connected to the neck bone, the neck bones'
connected to the collar bone..." Well it's true. So use this important lesson from your
science class to get some bounce your piano step. Begin by using your large muscles at
the top of this system so your fingers can do the walking with a spring in their step!
Follow the steps below to begin using your muscles correctly for piano.
Step 1 - Sit up tall on the piano bench and imagine that your neck is stretching up to the
ceiling from the top of your head. You should feel a sense of buoyancy in your posture.
Arch your lower back.
Step 2 - Swing your upper arms out from your sides until your hands are flat (kind of like
a birdie getting ready to flap its wings.)
Step 3 - With your forearms above the keyboard, reach out to the piano until you can feel
stretch in your muscles all the way back from your shoulder blade.
Step 4 - Keeping your hands in a rounded position, stretching each finger tip down to the
keys. Play G, F, E, D, C. Shifting the weight from one finger to the next with a little
"spring in your step."
Step 5 - To get from one hand position to another or from one octave to another, bounce
and land. Allow your finger to jump out of the first position by lifting at the elbow to
bounce and land in the new position.
Step 6 - When playing a scale or run of notes, play the first note lightly, then spring out
of the second note into the next one. This transfers energy and weight from one key to the
next easily.
Keep following these simple steps and you'll soon see how easy it is to get around the
keyboard with a spring in your step. Then you'll get an A in science - and piano!
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Cynthia Marie VanLandingham has been teaching piano in Tallahassee, Florida for 20 years. She is an alumna of The Florida State University College of Education, owner of TallyPiano & Keyboard Studios, a member of the American College of Musicians National Guild of Piano Teachers, and President of TallyPiano Enterprises, LLC.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_VanLandingham
